TweetThe Journal of Visualized Experiments recently announced plans to publish articles in cooperation with the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency on recent advancements in defense technology, including the development of a new biological agent detector. In one of the DTRA … Read More

TweetPublic health officials in Laramie County, Wyoming, recently conducted an emergency health disaster drill that simulated a release of the bioterror agent anthrax. The Laramie County Health Department and several emergency and health organizations ran the drill to assess their … Read More

TweetThe U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security recently passed multiple bills aimed at improving the federal government’s ability to prepare for and prevent an attack using weapons of mass destruction. In a unanimous vote, the committee passed the “WMD Prevention … Read More

TweetThe attorneys for two Georgia men accused of plotting to use bioterror agents in attacks against the U.S. government are preparing to go to trial. Lawyers for Ray Adams and Samuel Crump recently requested more information about the evidence collected … Read More

TweetLocal health officials in Baltimore are preparing to conduct a major bioterrorist disaster drill this week. The emergency exercise is planned to test the preparedness of local health departments to respond to an attack using a biological agent, in this … Read More

TweetUniversity of Michigan researchers recently announced that they have identified a new target for drugs that could one day treat anthrax infection. The team, led by Dr. David Sherman of the UM Life Sciences Institute, found a means to potentially … Read More

TweetPublic health officials said the recent test of an emergency medicine delivery system in Minneapolis/St. Paul went well, but further analysis of the system will be conducted. A spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Health said the system, which … Read More

TweetIt was recently revealed that the headquarters of the British Army Land Forces in Andover, United Kingdom, were evacuated in late March over fears of a biological attack after four staff members collapsed from a mysterious illness. Commanding officers thought … Read More

TweetThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of the antibiotic Levaquin against pneumonic plague in the event of a bioterrorist attack. The FDA has authorized the use of the Johnson & Johnson-produced drug through the animal rule, … Read More

TweetA vaccine for the potential bioweapon foot-and-mouth disease was recently developed in the United States and is expected to be licensed for use in the next few months. Experts consider FMD one of the most contagious animal viruses, and though … Read More

TweetDozens of workers were recently evacuated from a city administration building in Albany, Australia, following an anthrax threat. An unidentified city council employee was reportedly behind the hoax. The man allegedly sent an email to several staff members of Albany’s … Read More

TweetThe Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous and feared pathogens on the planet for which there is no effective treatment, but at least three companies are poised to make significant developments towards one in the near future. In … Read More

TweetThe French embassy in Jakarta was recently placed on alert after receiving a suspicious package. Three embassy staff members were placed in isolation after arrival of the package, which was labeled “#ANTRAC.” Intelligence chief Lieutenant General Marciano Norman said that … Read More

TweetApproximately 40,000 Minneapolis-St. Paul residents are scheduled to receive an empty pill bottle in their mailboxes on May 6 as part of a test of the area’s bioterrorism emergency antibiotic distribution system. The empty pill bottle represents the medical countermeasures … Read More

TweetNew research aims to increase the efficiency of the decontamination process in buildings affected by the release of a bioterror agent. A team from Drexel University’s Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering recently authored a study offering a method … Read More

TweetPublic health officials in Fremont County, Wyoming, recently held a disaster readiness drill that simulated a large-scale anthrax release in the area. The drill tested the Fremont County Public Health Department’s ability to distribute prophylactic medication and disseminate critical information … Read More

TweetThe president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs recently urged the U.S. federal government to provide medical countermeasures for first responders in case of a pandemic of biological attack. IAFC President Al Gillespie gave testimony before the House Subcommittee … Read More

TweetTelops, a technology firm specializing in hyperspectral imaging systems, recently announced the introduction of real-time detection software for the identification of gas emissions, including those of chemical warfare agents. The system, called Reveal D&I, is capable of detecting a large … Read More

TweetNew research shows that many terror plots against public transportation targets begin with unrealistic expectations that are scaled down to meet more realistic capabilities. A newly released report by Mineta Transportation Institute provides insight into the weapons and tactics terrorists … Read More

TweetA working group from the United States recently made a series of recommendations for how medical and public health professionals should respond to a bioterror attack using botulinum toxin. Dr. Stephen S. Arnon and his colleagues from organizations such as … Read More

TweetThe Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center was recently awarded $490,000 to study various means of improving the identification of potential terrorist threats. OUHSC researchers plan to collaborate with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism … Read More

TweetAn Iowa man who spent time in a federal prison for sending a police officer a threatening letter containing a white powder is going back to prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. America Yegile Haileselassie of Bettendorf, … Read More

TweetIn the decade since a series of anthrax-filled letters killed five people and infected 17 others, security at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, has never been tighter. Following the 2001 … Read More

TweetAt a recent meeting of scientists and experts at the Royal Society in London, two researchers who worked on projects involving mutated forms of H5N1 avian influenza said their independent projects did not produce a killer bug, but provided useful … Read More

TweetScientists at a two day meeting recently held in London achieved little consensus concerning whether some potentially dangerous studies should be kept from the public for security reasons. Bruce Alberts, the editor of the journal Science, told an audience at … Read More

TweetA federal advisory board’s reversal of its recommendation that two independent H5N1 studies only be published with key details redacted is poised to shift the debate over security needs for potentially dangerous research. The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, … Read More

TweetThe Iowa capitol building was recently placed on lockdown after a legislator opened a threatening letter containing a white powder. Approximately 300 lawmakers, staffers and observers were later released after a hazardous materials team tested the material and found it … Read More

TweetA joint U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee is scheduled to discuss the feasibility of storing antibiotic medikits in homes in case terrorists release anthrax spores in major U.S. cities. Anthrax is classified as a category A agent by … Read More

TweetTwo U.S. scientific journals recently announced that they are developing policies to address biosecurity-related concerns as experts continue to debate two controversial H5N1 avian flu studies. The editor of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Martin Hirsch, said that the … Read More

TweetIslamic extremists recently posted a series of detailed instructions online for how to launch a terrorist attack during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. One member of the group, called Abu Hija Ansari, called for cyanide to be mixed into … Read More